During the height of World War II women pilots ferried aircraft all across the world in support of the war effort. This weekend at the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center tribute is being paid to the WASPs.

During World War II trained pilots were being sent to the front lines to take the fight to the enemy, leaving a need for more pilots to ferry aircraft to the front. That?s where the WASPs - Women Airforce Service Pilots ? came in, ferrying fighters, bombers and transports all over the world.

"I'd always tell my father that's what I wanted to do,? WASP Flora Belle Reese said. ?He'd say Flora Belle, most women don't do that but if you can figure out how more power to you."

The government began training female pilots to ferry aircraft; during the height of the war more than 1,000 WASPs were flying planes in support of the war effort. One of those pilots was Betty Blake.

Blake learned how to fly at 14 and at 21 was enrolled in the first WASP class. After graduating, she was one of three women stationed with 2,000 men.

?We were an experiment and everyone watched us like hawks,? Blake said.

?It was exciting, flying all these great military planes,? she added.

And on Saturday a group of 20 WASPs ? of the approximately 300 still alive today ? will be honored at the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Sagle as ?Women of Courage? in a special ceremony including a fly-in and a meet-and-greet with these pioneer Aviatrixes.

For more information on the event check out the Bird Aviation Museum website at http://www.birdaviationmuseum.com